C O M M U N I T Y
Retiring from the Portola Valley School District are, from left, Barbara Gardyn, Norma Remke and Jean Turri.
School district recognizes 101 years of teaching By Anne Campbell Superintendent, Portola Valley School District
T
he Portola Valley School District recently honored a distinguished group of retirees: Barbara Gardyn, Ormondale kindergarten teacher; Norma Remke, Corte Madera resource specialist; and Jean Turri, Ormondale third-grade teacher. Together, these ladies have amassed over 101 years of teaching. That’s a lot of Back-toSchool Nights, parent conferences, report cards, and lesson planning. Barbara Gardyn began her teaching career in Rochester, New York, where she taught second grade. After moving to California, teaching in South San Francisco, and raising a family (including Ormondale teacher Deena Bertolina), Ms. Gardyn joined the Portola Valley School District in 1996, where she has happily taught kindergarten ever since. An ardent advocate for developmentally appropriate school curriculum, especially for our youngest students, Ms. Gardyn has served in a leadership role in the California Kindergarten Association. She has been a vital link to the world of school for students and parents alike, as they have transitioned from home and preschool to the world of Ormondale and elementary school. Room 8 will certainly miss Ms. Gardyn’s buoyant personality and knowledge of kindergarten when school opens in August, but three adorable grandchildren await! Norma Remke actually began her career in the Portola Valley district as a parent, being an active member of the PTA while her own children attended district schools. She enjoyed the district experience so much, that she joined the staff in 1985. Anyone who wanders around
the Corte Madera campus after school will often find Ms. Remke working late into the evening, making sure that when her students arrive at school the next day they have lessons that are well-prepared and educational experiences that are relevant to their specific learning needs. A Michigan native, Ms. Remke is a loyal fan of all the Detroit teams. As she retires to pursue exciting new life adventures, she gives up the No. 1 spot on the district Teacher Seniority List to someone else. When Ormondale clappedout its third-graders on June 11, Jean Turri ran through the halls one last time with her graduating class. This year, though, she ran not only into the bliss of summer, but also into the joys of retirement. Ms. Turri has been a teacher for 41 consecutive years, and has served students in the Laguna Salada, Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Portola Valley school districts. She is known throughout the Peninsula as an accomplished mathematics instructor, mentor, and presenter, so we count ourselves very lucky to have had her services as a teacher in Portola Valley for the past 11 years. As an individual who loves to stay busy and try new things, in her retirement Jean will undoubtedly continue her Zumba studies, make many trips to Apple’s Genius Bar, and discover new worlds to conquer. The Portola Valley School District wishes this fine trio of retirees well as they head off to the adventures that retirement holds in store for them. A most happy and well-deserved retirement to Barbara Gardyn, Norma Remke and Jean Turri. Anne Campbell is superintendent of the Portola Valley School District.
24 N The Almanac N July 14, 2010
Photo by Marjorie Mader
La Entrada eighth-graders who spoke at graduation are, front row from left, Kaela Han, Thomas Suesser and Zoe Pacalin; back row, Jill Galbraith, Chandler Wickers and Spencer Murphy.
La Entrada graduates 99 eighth-graders La Entrada’s Class of 2010 received diplomas June 10 during a festive ceremony in the middle school’s gym that featured class speakers, music, awards, and short recorded student reflections on their times in the Las Lomitas School District. The 99 eighth-graders entered the gym to “Yellow” by Cold Play and exited to “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye. Eric Hartwig, superintendent of the Las Lomitas School District, welcomed the students, their families and guests. Jill Galbraith, student body president, served as master of ceremonies. Chandler Wickers, Spencer Murphy, Zoe Pacalin and Kaela Han were selected as the featured student speakers. All eighthgraders wrote an essay in their English classes. The speeches were narrowed to finalists who gave their speeches to teachers serving as judges. Thomas Suesser led the flag salute.
N GR A DUATI O N 2010
Sonya Dineen, assistant principal, presented the Larry McCarty Inspirational Award to eighthgrader Sabihi Viswanathan, who was nominated by a peer and chosen by a committee from the Larry McCarty Foundation for Kids and school representatives. Principal Larry Thomas announced the student awards, and presented the graduating class to Jamie Schein, president of the Las Lomitas School District board, who awarded the diplomas. A reception was held immediately after the ceremony before the graduates celebrated later at “Grad Night,” planned by their parents. Graduates B-CVanessa Balcazar, Landon Baty, Rachel Bayersdorfer, David Brayman, Joshua Buttram, Charles Cain, Sofia Caryotakis, Angelica Causor, Joanne Cho, Jacob Choplin, Andrew Connell,
Wedding
Adam Cook, Sean Cox. D-GRobert deGeus, Paul DeTrempe, Matthew DeTrempe, David Dillon, John Donahue, Taylor Fortnam, Jill Galbraith, Ryan Galvin, Nicholas Garcia, Samantha Gardiner, Jordan Good, Gabriela Grant. H-JKaela Han, William Hanley, Amirhossein Heidari, Jessica Heilman, Grant Henninger, Anthony Hernandez, James Hoffman, Ana Hurtado, Caitlin Jalali, Hana Jenks, Grant Johnson, Kelley Jones. K-L Aaron Katzman, Carson Kelley, Kathryn Kennedy, William King, Sophia Kivelson, Bradley Knox, Luis Laguna, Angela Lai, Lindy LaPlante, Lindsay Lattin, Charlotte Lee, Nicholas Lee, Christopher Lee, Samuel Leznik, Riley Lico, Julio Lima, Jordan Long. M-O Ryan MacIntosh, Kevin Magana, Stefany Maldonado, Laiseni Mataele, Lakai Mataele, Andrew Mathews, Leo McCabe, Baylee McDonald, Ruth McGee, Jennifer Melendez, Marleyna Mohler, Brett Moriarty, Melissa Murphy, Spencer Murphy, John Norman, Taylor Oliver. P-Y Taylor Oliver, Zoe Pacalin, Samantha Parish, Christopher Peck, Madeleine Pont, George Purtell, William Queen, Thomas Suesser, Stephanie Trejo, Maxwell Tyler, Evan Vandermaas, Sabiha Viswanathan, Danielle Walsh, Kristen Walsh, Gillian Weisenfluh, Chandler Wickers, Tiffany Yang, Adam Yecies. Marjorie Mader compiled these graduation stories.
Nguyen-Baty
Berkeley, in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science. The couple will live in Menlo Park.
Suong T. Nguyen and Paul S. Baty were married June 26 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Karl Miller, assisted by the Rev. Frank VanderZwan. The bride is the daughter of Nghia Van Nguyen and Hoa Thi Tran of San Jose. She is counsel at the Davis Polk & Wardell law firm. She graduated from Harvard Law School in 1995 with a juris doctor degree and Franklin & Marshall College in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. The bridegroom is the son of Donald Paul Baty and Emilia Salveron Baty of Desert Hot Springs. He is a manager, enterprise products, at eHealth Inc. He graduated from the University of California,
Suong T. Nguyen and Paul S. Baty